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Stockholm Royal Seaport area transformed in lighting event

On the 26 November in the evening, in cooperation with the City of Stockholm, ÅF Lighting conducted a lighting event in the Norra Djurgårdstaden area. With the help of 130 volunteers, carrying LED torches and filters, the usually dark historic industrial area was lit up and transformed for the evening.

The lighting event in Stockholm Royal Seaport came about as a result of the City of Stockholm winning a free lighting design proposal in a contest organised by ÅF Lighting. Devised to raise public awareness about the importance of light and lighting design, the “Win a Lighting Makeover” contest was part of the official programme for the International Year of Light 2015, organised by the Lighting-Related Organizations under the patronage of UNESCO.

In January 2015, ÅF Lighting called for nominations for public spaces to be enhanced by lighting design. In their winning proposal, the City of Stockholm nominated two historic gas holders in the Royal Seaport area. Here, extensive urban development is taking place, with plans for some 12 000 new homes, 35 000 new work spaces, infrastructure, amenities, and facilities for arts and culture. Situated adjacent to the Frihamnen docks, the area was previously mainly used for gas production and other industry. Its relative proximity to Stockholm City centre, in combination with its location close to water, woods and parkland, means that the development is attracting great interest.

Having discussed various options and lighting scenarios, the parties decided to organise a lighting event where members of the general public would help create temporary installations, in cooperation with professional lighting designers and a photographer. In this way, the group would experience the transformative power of lighting design first hand. The lighting scenarios would be documented with long expose photography and shared with the general public. Using powerful hand held LED torches, filters and a so-called pixel stick, four dramatic and playful lighting scenarios were created.

“I’m delighted with the results. This evening, we created art together”, says Kai Piippo, Head of Design at ÅF Lighting. “Using light, we managed to bring out the soul and the architectural character of these fascinating sites.”

“People love seeing these spectacular buildings up close”, says Staffan Lorentz, Head of Development of Stockholm Royal Seaport. “When we invited the public to register online for the event, it was fully booked almost immediately.”